Fumo cocktail bar and Italian ‘cicchetti’ restaurant in Birmingham city centre has struck gold in the national PAPA Awards 2012.

The venue in Waterloo Street launched earlier this year by San Carlo Group won the prestigious Italian Restaurant Gold Award in the annual event for its ‘outstanding eating experience – excellent food and friendly service’.

Manager Matteo Beligoni, (pictured left) was presented with the coveted award by television comedian Ian Irving during a glittering ceremony at the Lancaster Hotel in London, attended by more than 400 guests.

Carlo Distefano Chairman of the Italian family owned business said: “We are thrilled to receive such an important award within just months of opening Fumo.

“Being recognised in this way reflects the high standards we strive to achieve and maintain in our 12 restaurants throughout the UK as well as our Signor Sassi brand venues in the Middle East and Asia.”

This is the third year in succession that PAPA has selected San Carlo restaurants for top awards. Other venues have included San Carlo Manchester, San Carlo Liverpool and Flying Pizza in Leeds.

A spokesperson for PAPA said: “San Carlo Group restaurants have won Gold awards for the last three years because they have consistently maintained the very highest standards.”

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